THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA
Revelation 2:8-11
I. INTRODUCTION.
A. For explanation on angel and the first and the last, see
lesson on Church at Ephesus.
B. Smyrna-a city of great antiquity, on the western coast of
Asia Minor. Possessed by the Aeolian Greeks. North of
Ephesus.
C. Alyattes, King of Lydia, destroyed it and it lay waste 200
years. Plans for rebuilding formed by Alexander the Great
and executed by his successors.
D. Became a large and flourishing commercial center. Home
of Polycarp, who suffered martyrdom there by fire. Paul may have estab-
lished the church there. Acts 19:10.
II. "I KNOW THY WORKS..."
A. The eyes of the Lord everywhere Beholding good and
evil. Prov. 15:3.
B. "Works" here means conduct rather than simple deeds.
Works commended.
C. "The fruit of the righteous"-Prov. 11:30. The word is the
light. Psa. 119:130. The church, the candlestick. Light is
silent, but mighty, revealing all things.
D. Works of darkness denounced. job 24:14-17; Prov. 7:6-9;
Isa. 29:15; Ezek. 8:2; Eph. 5:11.
E. Such are lost, but try to save by pulling out of the fire.
Jude 23.
F. We must abound in the work of the Lord. I Cor. 15:58.
III. TRIBULATIONS:
A. No doubt has reference to persecution from the Jews, hea-
thens, heretics, etc.
B. Includes all that they suffered from any form.
IV. POVERTY:
A. Eminently poor-the cause not given. God uses such many
times to do the greatest work. I Cor. 1:26-29.
B. "Rich" in faith, etc. May account for their existing longer
than the other churches of Asia. James 2:5; 1 Timothy 6:8.
V. "I KNOW THE BLASPHEMY OF THEM..."
(verse 9)
A. The Lord knew the blasphemy of their enemies-the bitter
reviling and reproaches thrown against them.
B. Same type of people who persecuted Christ-claimed to be
God's people.
C. In the natural sense, not following the teaching of Moses
-neither Christians in the spiritual sense. Romans 2:28,
29.
D. Claimed to be of God, yet of the synagogue of Satan.
E. Cast you in prison-to be tried. John 16:2.
1 - Your faith put to a test.
F. "Tribulation ten days"-a period of persecution.
I . The man who is being fattened on prosperity has his
dish in the world, but it does not prosper. It may
strengthen us as the sun, but it is adversity that in-
spects our constitutions.
2. "The history of persecution is a history of endeavors
to cheat nature, to make water run uphill, to twist a
rope of sand."-Emerson.
G. Fear none of these things.
1. Franklin D. Roosevelt said, "The greatest of all fears
is fear itself."
2. This suffering comparatively short. Greater reward
coming-see Romans 8:18.
VI. "BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH."
A. Does not mean merely, "Be faithful until death takes you
away." Be faithful though it costs you your life.
B. Faithfulness Is Victory-When the world kills the faith-
ful man because it cannot change him, it is not the man
who is defeated, but the world.
C. The strong life is the life that can defy circumstances and
make every failure a stepping stone to a nobler resolve.
Can maintain its integrity when all the world is against it.
D. Example: Polycarp's suffering and death.
VII. "I WILL GIVE THEE A CRO\VN OF LIFE."
A. The life that is won is eternal, profound, joyous, infinitely
great and glorious.
VIII. "HE THAT HATH EARS TO HEAR LET HIM
HEAR."
A. Jesus had told His apostles before His death that the Spirit
would guide them. John 14:26; 16:13-15.
B. Be ready to hear. Ecc. 5:1; Luke 8:15; James 1:19; Matt.
7:24-27.
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